A mere 3.6% reported adventurous characteristics, compared to 12.8% of 2,000 individuals in the general public.

The entrepreneurs surveyed fell into three different business categories: limited companies, sole traders, or partnerships. Sole traders tended to be more carefree and spontaneous while those in partnerships were most likely to be wary, prudent, and composed.

"Although [the results] demonstrate a contradiction to general perceptions around 'what makes an entrepreneur?,' we welcome the fact that business owners are more measured and calculated in their approach," Darrell Sansom, managing director of AXA Business Insurance, told the Financial Times.

The study suggested that those who are calm, confident, optimistic, organized, methodical, and measured have greater financial resources and therefore could be more successful as business owners.